So, 2011 is coming to a close.
As is tradition, here’s a concise recap of the highlights and projects from the past year. I made progress on many rooms, tackled office and outdoor updates, and had plenty of memorable personal moments along the way.
January
January started with a look back at the rooms that still had old, mauve-pink walls — what I jokingly called my “swine” color. That month also included an early paint mishap, which we recovered from and used as motivation to refresh several spaces. The kids’ bathroom received a very bright new color and a faux board-and-batten treatment that I ended up loving. I also attended the Blissdom conference in Nashville and enjoyed meeting many home bloggers, though I decided to take fewer trips this coming year to be more intentional about time at home.
A sneak peek of the bathroom.
Finally, a dated light fixture in the dining room was replaced with a new lantern that quickly became one of my favorite updates.
February
February’s highlight was the arrival of that new dining room lantern — an improvement I still enjoy every day.
March
In March I shared the evolution of the dining room with before-and-so-far photos, and later in June I updated it again with recycled blue-and-white curtains that remain in place and still make me smile. Another small but meaningful upgrade that month was finally getting a new dishwasher.
April
April covered practical home organization: how I keep the kitchen and everyday papers in order. That month I also shared a major behind-the-scenes project: moving our small start-up church to a new building with a cozy, coffee-shop–style design. I launched new Room Tours and DIY pages on the blog to highlight other creatives’ spaces and projects. I also added new, affordable chairs to the dining room that have been versatile and stylish additions.
May
May included a cross-country trip to New York, a family getaway with my mom, daughter and sister, and a memorable chance to spend time with Nate Berkus and Kate in Soho. I also found a pretty patterned pillow that inspired a little seasonal refresh at home.
June–July
Summer months brought outdoor updates: a simple backyard makeover with a family-friendly fire pit that quickly became a favorite spot, and a painted yellow pallet repurposed into a charming privacy screen and planter. I attended the EVO conference in Utah for inspiration and rest. We welcomed a new goldendoodle puppy named Jack, who provided plenty of entertaining mischief — including an unfortunate incident with the Christmas tree later in the year. July also included a terrifying medical emergency with my daughter that we’re incredibly thankful she recovered from.
August
August featured backyard projects like a potting-table garden and a tiny tabletop fairy garden. My husband and I enjoyed a short escape to the San Juan Islands and I shared a few of the charming houses we spotted on that trip.
September
September focused on outdoor room makeovers, with progress photos showing how simple, affordable updates can refresh porch and deck areas. These small changes made those spaces feel renewed and more usable.
October
October brought the annual 31-day series with lots of seasonal and holiday decorating ideas. During the summer I wrote and finished an ebook, Not a DIY Diva, which launched in October. The month also included a restorative trip to Hilton Head and later travel to the Relevant conference — a busy but rewarding season.
November
November was a reflective month about perfectionism and finding contentment in the home you have. I celebrated a small thrill when a spontaneous Christmas mantel idea was featured in Cottages & Bungalows magazine. My daughters launched their own blogs that month, which has been a source of pride and joy for our family.
December
December featured a variety of Christmas decorating posts, including a home tour that showed updates to the entry, a newly striped wall, and a refreshed mantel and light fixtures slated to be shared in more detail soon. There was also the unfortunate holiday incident where Jack treated the tree like indoor plumbing. Despite that, the season had many warm moments.
The updates to the entry, including the stripes, a mantel and new light fixtures, will be featured in the coming weeks.
Overall, 2011 was a year of steady home improvements, travel for inspiration and work, and personal moments that reminded me to be grateful. I’ve found a balance between blogging and living well outside of it, and I’m excited for the plans already in motion for 2012. Expect many before-and-after reveals and home progress updates early in the new year.
Thank you to every reader who followed The Inspired Room this year. Your encouragement made this work fun and meaningful.
What’s coming in 2012? Lots of home projects are in planning or already underway — more before-and-afters and updates to My Home. I can’t wait to share them.
For now: a nap by the fire.